Evaluation of Health Care Cost and Utilization Project Data (HCUP) in Healthcare Research

Abstract

This practicum project studies the development and historical contribution of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) to healthcare research. A PubMed search for publications that utilized HCUP databases was conducted. The literature review led to the development of Healthcare Improvement Categories to examine the contribution of HCUP to healthcare research. Hospital Quality Improvement was the most represented category, followed by Administrative Improvement. The practicum project developed clinical research management techniques during the coordination of a study “Assessing the association between hospital characteristics and in hospital mortality in acute myocardial infarction patients.” The study protocol was developed for the Epidemiology Department within the Institute of Health Care Research Improvement (IHCRI) for Baylor Health Care System.